Basse Normandie region
The region of Bassie Normandie has something to offer everyone. It is easy to reach from the UK with the construction of the new autoroute from Calais and with direct ferries to Dieppe. It is a beautiful rural region, bordered to the north by the channel coast with its many beaches, with many activities to offer including walking, cycling, swimming, sailing, horse riding and many others.
There are many sites of architectural and historical interest and plenty of towns and villages where you can enjoy shopping, cafes, bars and many restaurants to sample the local cuisine.
There is a wealth of rental accommodation available in the region, ranging from lovely hotels to country auberges and chambre d'hotes to self catering quality gites and apartments. You are sure to find something to suit both your taste and your budget. You can expect a warm welcome and a memorable holiday.
The Departments
The department of Calvados is has given its name to its most famous product, Calvados apple brandy. It is well known for its apple orchards and its fantastic cider. There is a cider trail to follow which takes in some very beautiful villages and some stunning countryside. The port of Honfleur has many delightful sea food restaurants and a long history of sea faring. The resorts of Deauville and Trouville are fashionable resorts with all the trimmings that you would expect. Capital of the department is Caen which was very badly damaged in World War 2 but has been rebuilt and it now a thriving port with ferries to the UK. Bayeum, the first town to be liberated after D-Day, is where you can see the famous tapestry.
The port of Cherbourg is in the department of Manche and is a very busy place. It is a major cross channel port and has a wide variety of activities on offer, all based on water is some way. There are miles of sandy beaches in the department and, inland, the countryside is beautiful and unspoilt. There are many sites of historical interest, particularly the village of St Mere Eglise where the church bears tribute to the Allied paratroops who liberated it on D-Day. There are many hotels, inns, restaurants and shopping opportunities within the department.
Orne is the most southerly of the departments and the only one with no coastline. It is a beautiful rural landscape of forests and rolling meadows. It is a major centre for horse breeding and there are many riding trails and horses are available for hire. Many sites of architectural and cultural interest make this a fascinating place for a holiday. The fortified town of Belleme has many 17th and 18th century buildings and a covered marketplace where the sausage fair is held.